Estimation of bottom scattering strength from measured and modeledmid-frequency sonar reverberation levels

Hamilton-type geoacoustic models were developed for Area Foxtrot, a shallow water test bed south of Long Island, for emerging active sonar systems where the surface sediment type is highly spatially variable. Reverberation levels (RL) were modeled using the finite-element parabolic equation (FEPE) propagation model to augment the generic sonar model (GSM) propagation model because the bottom loss model in GSM did not estimate transmission loss (TL) accurately in shallow water. FEPE estimates reveal that there is a greater than 15 dB difference between TL for sand and that for silt-day sediments in Area Foxtrot. The comparison between modeled RL and measured RL (from a 1991 active sonar exercise) enabled bottom scattering strength kernels to be developed for Area Foxtrot. Bottom scattering strength was found to be a function of sediment type. Hard sand sediment has a bottom scattering strength which obeys Lambert's law (sin² &thetas;) while that of silt-clay sediment is consistent with sub-bottom volume scattering (sine). The RLs in Area Foxtrot are azimuth-dependent and are a function of TL and bottom scattering strength (and hence bottom sediment type). Sonar beams steered towards the hard sand show higher RLs than for silt-clay, and knowledge of the sediment type and its spatial variation must be known to model RL accurately. A method to determine sediment type using measured RLs and RL slopes is given     

Modeling bistatic bottom scattering strength including a forwardscatter lobe

An upgrade to bistatic scattering strength modelling that is based on the authors' current understanding of bottom topographic scattering with an emphasis on modeling the `forward lobe' where Lambert's law fails quite significantly is reported. Low-frequency bottom scatter modeling is reviewed with particular emphasis on the issues of the forward scattered lobe. A specific model (a modified version of BISSM) is proposed, and the model's advantages and limitations are discussed. The requirement for certain high-resolution geomorphic data needed to support the model is discussed. Like the original BISSM, the version does not modify the accepted form for diffuse scattering, but it does modify the form of the forward lobe     

High-frequency reverberation in shallow water

Monostatic reverberation measurements were collected in shallow water, over a coarse gravel and cobble bottom, 100 m deep, off the coast of Nova Scotia. Data were collected at frequencies of 21, 28, and 36 kHz using linear FM pulses of 2-kHz bandwidth and 0.160-s duration. An anchored, high-frequency active sonar array deployed at a depth of 42 m was used to collect the data. The reverberation measurements were compared with estimates computed with the NUWC generic sonar model (GSM). The data were reasonably well modeled for times greater than 0.2 s after pulse transmission by neglecting surface reverberation and using Lambert's rule for bottom backscattering with a scattering coefficient of -27 dB, independent of frequency. At all three frequencies, the data and model show a peak approximately 0.9 s after pulse transmission. This peak results from a focusing effect that the downward-refracting sound-speed profile has on the interaction of the rays with the bottom     

Measurements of suspended particulate matter with laser in-situ scattering and transmissometry in the Jiaozhou Bay in China

1 IntroductionKnowledge of suspended particle size and distri-bution is the key elements for better understandingthe sediment transport processes ( Wang et al.,2004), primary production (Ning et al., 2004),water quality controlling and pollution predictio…     

Reverberation-derived shallow-water bottom scattering strength

Determinations of acoustic scattering strength for sand bottoms have been made at several different shallow-water areas under downward refracting sound propagation conditions in the frequency decade below 1 kHz. The measurements have been made using explosive sources detonated at mid-water depth and bottom-mounted vertical and horizontal hydrophone line arrays as receivers. The ubiquitous presence of multipaths in shallow water prevents a direct-path scattering geometry, and scattering strength must be extracted from the full reverberation field, which complicates the determination of bottom grazing angle dependence of scattering. The major focus of this paper has been the variation of scattering strength with frequency (integrated over participating bottom angles), though estimates of the angular dependence of scattering strength have been made using the vertical receiving array. Typically the integrated scattering strength for sand bottoms reported (and elsewhere) are found to decrease below 1 kHz and in some instances to exhibit a minimum in the several hundred hertz range. Sand bottom scattering strengths below 1 kHz are significantly lower than those predicted by the Mackenzie formula and the limited angular dependence determinations have been found to be consistent with Lambert's law     

Estimation of underwater scattering radiances up to the third order

Vertical distribution of underwater scattering radiances of the first, the second and the third order is estimated by the Jerlov's method. In the estimation the volume attenuation coefficient and the volume scattering function are assumed to be constant in near surface layer, and the sky radiation separated from solar radiation to be a parallel beam and to fall into the sea in the vertical direction only.In the zenith direction the second scattering radiance is more intense than the first scattering radiance in near surface layer. As for the total radiance which is a sum of radiances up to the third order, the zenith radiation is largest, the nadir radiation is moderate and the horizontal radiation is least.     

Tests of models for high-frequency seafloor backscatter

The interaction of high-frequency sound with the seafloor is inherently a stochastic process. Inversion techniques must, therefore employ good stochastic models for bottom acoustic scattering. An assortment of physical models for bottom backscattering strength is tested by comparison with scattering strength data obtained at 40 kHz at three shallow water sites spanning a range of sediment types from fine silt to coarse sand. These acoustic data are accompanied by sediment physical property data obtained by core sample analysis and in situ probes. In addition, stereo photography was used to measure the power spectrum of bottom relief on centimeter scales. These physical data provided the inputs needed to test the backscatter models, which treat scattering from both the rough sediment-water interface and the sediment volume. For the three sites considered here, the perturbation model for scattering from a slightly rough fluid seafloor performs well. Volume scattering is predicted to be weak except at a site having a layer of methane bubbles     

Small perturbation method of high-frequency bistatic volumescattering from marine sediments

The first-order small perturbation method (Born approximation), as frequently applied to high-frequency scattering from marine sediments, is critically reviewed, tested for accuracy and extended. The sediment is modeled as an acoustic-fluid half space with random fluctuations in density and compressibility. Several cases of volume scattering from typical marine sand and mud sediments are presented to illustrate the effects of two important assumptions: (1) the effects of assuming the density and compressibility fluctuations are proportional, and (2) half-space effects. By relaxing the assumption that the sediment density and compressibility are proportional, the bistatic scattering cross section is significantly altered. The effects of properly modeling the sediment as a random half space (as opposed to an infinite continuum) are also discussed. In the context of first-order perturbation theory, half-space effects manifest themselves as a “modified” spectra for density and compressibility fluctuations. It is shown that, for lossy sediments and for scattering near the specular direction, half-space effects are significant and cannot be neglected. This result is significant because current models of sediment volume scattering do not include half-space effects. In addition to the theoretical model, exact numerical simulations are used to evaluate the accuracy of the perturbation model for a limited number of cases     

Statistics of fluctuations in high-frequency low-grazing-angle backscatter from a rocky sea bed

This paper examines the fluctuations in low-grazing-angle 100-kHz backscatter from a rocky limestone sea bed near Copenhagen, Denmark, at horizontal ranges up to 420 m. The sea-bed reverberation was characterized by strong short spatial-scale variations in scattering strength and statistical parameters. The measured areal backscatter strengths were in the range from -50 to -24 dB at grazing angles less than 3/spl deg/, showing a strong local variability and grazing-angle dependence definitely not in accordance with Lambert's law. The observed echo-amplitude distributions varied between log-normal and Rayleigh models, with more Rayleigh-like probability density functions having higher scintillation indices and skewness (approaching values of 1.0 and 0.63, respectively). The scintillation index and skewness parameters were found to increase mildly with both horizontal range and water-current magnitude. A simple model using the coherent superposition of multiple scatterers was proposed to explain the observed scattering statistics. This model is based on the assumption that the sea bed is effectively immobile, with water-borne scintillation and micro-multipaths providing fluctuations in scatterer phase. This simple model shows that echo-amplitude fluctuations can deviate from the Rayleigh model through two mechanisms: 1) decreasing the levels of water-borne phase fluctuation and 2) increasing the nonuniformity of the sea-bed scatterer amplitudes.     

Volume scattering model of the sea surface and its application

In this paper the stochastic Green function method is used to solve random wave equation of the electromagnetic field. The volume scattering coefficient formula of the sea surface containing bubbles is given. It is also point out that when the incident angle of the electromagnetic wave is less than 30°, the surface scattering model is not sufficient. The joint problem of the volume scattering and the surface scattering coefficient in the neighbourhood of incident angle 30° is discussed.     

黄海、东海海区水体散射特性研究

半分析模型是水色遥感反演算法的研究热点,而水体后向散射系数对建立半分析水色反演模型是非常重要的参数.通过对黄海、东海海区的水体固有光学量测量数据进行分析,得到水体总后向散射系数与水体总散射系数的关系为乘幂关系,颗粒物后向散射系数随光谱变化的指数在高低浑浊度水体有很大差异,并初步得到黄海、东海海区水体的后向散射系数与总悬浮物浓度的关系,从而为水色半分析模型建立和水光学辐射计算提供一组散射特性模型.     

浅海声反射损失的实验研究

本文介绍在水深40—90米的浅海海域中三种类型沉积层海底上,用爆炸声源进行的海底反射损失的实验研究结果。实验结果与按均匀半空间底模型计算所得海底反射损失的理论曲线作了比较。结果表明:反射损失值明显地与底的类型有关,细砂底的反射损失较小,粉砂质泥次之,而粉砂质粘土的反射损失较大;对于同类型的海底,孔隙度大者反射损失也较大。此外,还讨论了沉积物中场速的两种经验公式的适用性。     

The partition wavenumber in acoustic backscattering from atwo-scale rough surface described by a power-law spectrum

Scattering from the ocean bottom is often assumed to be controlled by two spatial scales: the larger scale associated with reflections from plane facets, and the smaller one associated with diffuse scattering from height variations. Choosing the wavenumber for this partitioning has proven to be important but troublesome. For this work, scattering data are simulated using Helmholtz-Kirchhoff or physical optics theory and selected input geomorphology. These data are inverted to provide rms slope of facets and rms heights of small-scale roughness using a simple two-scale roughness model introduced previously (J. W. Caruthers and J. C. Novarini, IEEE J. Oceanic Eng., vol. 18, pp. 100-106, 1993). Bottom relief is described by power spectra of the power law form, and the bottom is assumed to be impenetrable. The work introduces a new criterion for effecting this partition based on setting a roughness parameter equal to unity. The criterion is shown to be valid for the cases analyzed based on the ability of the inversion model to recover the input geomorphology     

An oceanic reverberation model

A simple model of the surface, volume, and bottom reverberation received by a moving platform as a function of time following the tranmission of a narrow-band pulsed signal is described. Both the time-varying power level and the underlying power spectrum are predicted. The model includes the effects of platform motion, transmit signal windowing, transmit and receive beam patterns, and the environment (surface, volume, and bottom backscattering strengths, the scatterer velocity distributions for surface waves and current layers, and sound absorption). An isospeed sound speed profile is assumed and reflections at the surface and bottom boundaries are not permitted. Also described is a matched filter-envelope detector receiver model for post processing of the reverberation spectra.     

一个湍能封闭模型对风暴潮海底底应力的应用研究

将一个三维湍能封闭模型应用于开阔海区的风暴潮，通过数值计算探讨了Ｔａｙｌｏｒ底摩擦二次率的拖曳系数随空间的分布及拖曳系数与水深、海底粗糙度、风向和风速等因素的关系。本文对底摩擦二次率的可靠性做了评价。     

基于Chirp数据和Biot-Stoll模型反演南海北部陆坡海底表层沉积物物理性质

浅地层剖面是基于声学信号(频率在几百至几千赫兹)在沉积物中的传播得到可反映沉积地层结构的数据,海底反射系数与沉积物物理性质密切相关。Biot-Stoll声波传播理论模型可以预测海底沉积物的物理性质,构建反射系数等声学参数与物理参数之间的关系,但在不同的海域采用不同的参数所获得的效果不同。为此,本文基于南海北部陆坡海底表层沉积物的实测物理参数,利用BiotStoll模型建立研究区海底反射系数和沉积物物理性质之间的关系,结果表明模型计算值与样品实测值吻合度总体较好,偏差在0.1%～4.9%之间,并建立了频率3.5 kHz时海底反射系数与沉积物孔隙度、密度、平均粒径之间的关系方程,且方程拟合度较高,可决系数R2均大于0.99。在对典型Chirp剖面数据计算其海底反射系数的基础上,反演了海底表层沉积物的孔隙度、密度、颗粒平均粒径等物理性质,其中反演孔隙度、密度、平均粒径与实测孔隙度、密度、平均粒径相对误差均小于5%,结果与实测值基本相符,表明该反演方法在南海北部陆坡区的应用是可行的。     

A numerical model for onset of scour below offshore pipelines

A numerical model is developed to predict the onset of local scour below offshore pipelines in steady currents and waves. The scour is assumed to start when the pressure gradient underneath the pipeline exceeds the floatation gradient of the sediments. In this model, the water flow field above the bed is determined by solving the two-dimensional (2-D) Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with a k-ω turbulence closure. The seepage flow below the seabed is calculated by solving the Darcy's law (Laplace's equation) with known pressure distribution along the common boundaries of the flow domains-seabed. The numerical method used for both the turbulent flow around the pipeline and Darcy's flow in the seabed is a fractional finite element method. The average pressure gradient along the buried pipe surface is employed in the evaluation of onset condition with a calibration coefficient. The numerical model is validated against experimental data available in literature. A unified onset condition for steady currents and waves is proposed. Influences of flow parameters, including water depth, embedment depth, boundary layer thickness, Reynolds number (Re) and Keuleagan–Carpenter (KC) number, on the pressure drop coefficient over the pipeline are studied systematically.     

基于Sobol法的海底反向散射模型参数敏感度分析

为了对海底声学参数反演中的估计精度做出预估,合理解释反演结果,本文基于Jackson海底声散射模型,利用Sobol算法,对该模型中的耗散系数、速度比等7个参数进行定量的敏感度分析。Sobol算法可以给出参数的一阶敏感度和参数间相互作用的敏感度,适用于分析散射强度的影响因子。仿真结果表明,所选择的声波频率对于参数的敏感度影响不大,模型各参数交互作用较为强烈,速度比的全局敏感度最大,而耗散系数敏感度很小。将参数划分为地声属性参数、粗糙度参数和非均匀性参数,地声属性参数敏感度最大。模型参数敏感度分析结果对于反演有一定的指导作用。     

一种分层海底反向散射模型

In order to predict the bottom backscattering strength more accurately, the stratified structure of the seafloor is considered. The seafloor is viewed as an elastic half-space basement covered by a fluid sediment layer with finite thickness. On the basis of calculating acoustic field in the water, the sediment layer, and the basement, four kinds of scattering mechanisms are taken into account, including roughness scattering from the water-sediment interface, volume scattering from the sediment layer, roughness scattering from the sediment-basement interface,and volume scattering from the basement. Then a backscattering model for a stratified seafloor applying to low frequency(0.1–10 kHz) is established. The simulation results show that the roughness scattering from the sediment-basement interface and the volume scattering from the basement are more prominent at relative low frequency(below 1.0 kHz). While with the increase of the frequency, the contribution of them to total bottom scattering gradually becomes weak. And the results ultimately approach to the predictions of the high-frequency(10–100 kHz) bottom scattering model. When the sound speed and attenuation of the shear wave in the basement gradually decrease, the prediction of the model tends to that of the full fluid model, which validates the backscattering model for the stratified seafloor in another aspect.     

由正入射遥测海底介质参数方法初探

通过数值模拟计算发现，对于分层有吸收海底，在层厚已知的条件下，除最下面的介质以外．有可能利用垂直入射的脉冲声波遥测各层的密度、声速与吸收系数。此法的要点是，根据入射波和层参数的假设值算得反射信号，与实际反射信号比较；然后改变参数再作计算，直到误差最小为止．此时对应的层参数即为介质参数值实际的估计值。指出根据这种方法有可能实现以自适应方法遥测分层海底的介质参数。